Many ask what is the going rate to construct a house and my answer is always "how much are you willing to spend?"

Cost varies according to how, where, when, who, and why.

A reputable builder with years of experience building 100 houses utilizing limited layouts, elevations and materials can construct a house at a rate of $80 to $120 per square foot. The sub-trades reduce their cost due to loyalty, quantity and repetitive work. The experience site supervisors ensure scheduling is maintain, which reduces time and money.

General contractors cost varies due to experience, sub-trades and profit range. General contractors who can maintain good schedules will reduce their time and cost per house. General contractors who have a multiply of single discipline sub-trades can select the best price thru completion or bids. General contractors profit range can vary accordingly to their knowledge and scenarios. A general contractor can construct a house at a rate of $150 to $350 per square foot. The range varies due to construction type, materials and workmanship. Please note square foot cost can increase sharply when constructing mansions.

Hiring sub-trades without a general contractor can increase the cost of building due to the unknown trade cost, scheduling and hidden issues. When hiring separate trades to complete a task the ability to obtain multiple bids, conducting reference checks and reviewing the different contracts can cause many headache or lost of valuable time. Not knowing the trades workmanship, scheduling or material quality can leave many surprises and lead to additional cost.

Building a house in the winter, expect many issues to arise and will need attention. Issues from special concrete admixtures for curing in the cold, ground protection from frost, exterior and interior heating during construction to protect materials from freezing. All these special attentions will require additional cost.

Building a house in a remote area will increase cost to construct. Factors such as delivery cost, trade availabilities, site conditions and amenities (IE water and electricity) will increase the construction cost.

When you decide to construct your house consider the following: -Who will be constructing the house -When are you constructing -Where are you constructing -How are you constructing and -Why are you constructing

Set a budget and include 10-15% contingency for unexpected cost. Plan your budget with a qualified designer or licensed architect to provide a design within your budget. Hire the best contractor or trades that meet your budget.

Therefore always remember that prior to constructing, set a budget, plan your build and ensure you hire the right person/s. Review your budget to ensure it is reasonable. Hire professional and contractors that meet your requirements after conducting reference checks, reviewing their past performance and workmanship.

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